So often, we drift through our days, looking forward to the weekend, completing tasks, wishing for more time. Although we may yearn for direction and purpose, we often don’t invest the time to make a plan. Instead, we get swept up in the minutiae of the day to day. One way of shining a spotlight on what we want to be, do and cultivate in our life is through the creation of a Vision Board. Sometimes these are referred to as Dream Boards but I prefer the concept of “vision.” Vision is the ability to think about and plan for the future with intelligence, imagination and purpose.

Vision Boards can be made in countless ways, through collage, drawing/writing or even electronic versions. The most important thing is that you actually make it and keep it where you can see it often. The example above is one that I made using free online software (click on the picture to go to the site). I’m sure there are many other digital options out there but this one was free and easy. I decided to make a digital one this time so I can set it as my desktop background. Considering the amount of time I spend at my computer, this seemed like the perfect place to park it. If you like a more hands-on approach, you can google and find endless examples from which to draw inspiration.

The point is purpose.

Identify what you want to manifest in your life. Name it, write it, picture it. When you come to those forks in the road, ask yourself if the choices you are making serve to support the vision you have for your life.

This doesn’t just apply to the BIG life decisions, but also to our day to day choices. Do I go to the gym today? Do I spend money on new shoes? Do I take on a volunteer role? When you view these questions through the lens of a purposeful vision, the answers often become crystal clear.

One of my very favorite things about my husband is how often he makes me laugh. He knows I carry around some heavy stuff, I ruminate, I over-think, I worry. When I laugh with him, it shifts my perspective. I know I can be too serious for my own good so I intentionally seek out laughter–browsing the internet, going to the comedy club, watching a marathon of the Big Bang Theory. Sometimes when I feel the least funny is when I know I need it the most.

The physiological and emotional benefits of laughter are incredible!

Laughter:

Boosts the immune system

Reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline

Increases immune cells and infection-fighting anti-bodies

Triggers the release of endorphins

Increases vascular blood flow

Increases memory and learning

Improves alertness, creativity and memory

Relieves pain

Elevates mood

Reduces depression, anxiety and tension

Increases hope, optimism and energy

Reduces stress

Promotes relaxation

Lowers blood pressure

How long has it been since you’ve experienced a deep, genuine belly laugh? How long since you laughed until you cried? How long since the muscles in your face and abdomen hurt from laughter? For most of us, it’s been too long.

So, today’s challenge…find some humor in your life. Watch your favorite funny movie, hang out with that friend who always has the best stories to tell, watch YouTube clips of your favorite comedian. Feel how your body shifts and changes. Appreciate the fact that this is something you can do for yourself.

I will share a few of my favorite (G-rated) funnies to get the ball rolling…

Happy Monday morning! My challenge to you on this beautiful, crisp fall morning is to claim a word to guide your ship this week. What would you like to cultivate in your life this week? What word will serve as a reminder of your goals and hopes for the week? What word will give you inspiration? Don’t make this too hard, there are countless words that can be a positive influence in your life. Hope. Joy. Forgiveness. Patience. Breathe. Kindness.

My word is gratitude. It is so easy to become overwhelmed by the demands of the day to day. How often we get pulled down by the anchor of what we don’t have, what’s missing in our lives. This week, I am choosing to be led by gratitude.

Write your word in your calendar, make it your screen saver, post it on your fridge, write it on your arm, share it here. Claim your word! Let it into your life and see the benefits it can bring.

In October 2011, 18-year-old Sasha DiGiulian became the first American woman to scale the rock formation known as Pure Imagination in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky. It’s considered one of the most difficult climbs in the country and took Sasha three days.

Click the photo to watch two minutes of her amazing journey. As you explore the scenery, listen to the words of President Theodore Roosevelt that inspired the title for Dr. Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly.

I think we would all agree, even great relationships are complicated. Whether we are talking about friends, roommates, romantic partners, parents, siblings, in-laws, they can be our greatest sources of love and support as well as stress and confusion. This is where boundaries come in. Boundaries are simply limits that help define us as complete and separate from another person. They can be physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual and mental. So many sources of relationship stress stem from a lack of boundaries or one person violating the boundaries of another. There are countless books, articles, blogs and websites that speak to the value of boundaries, how to set them, how to enforce them and the problems that can occur when they are violated. The above link is to one article that I think gives a good overview. As you read, I encourage you to think about how this applies to your relationships. Even though it can be uncomfortable to set new limits, it’s never too late to establish healthy relationship boundaries. In the long run, it will not only nourish you as an individual but will help build respectful, healthy, long-term relationships.

I am a huge fan of coloring! It’s one of those things that can immediately shift my focus, allow me to be a little creative without taking too much time. Some days I like crayons, some days markers, most recently I’ve been a little obsessed with colored pencils. Do you remember that feeling when you got a new box of crayons, all lined up and ready to go? When is the last time you bought crayons? Or in my case, colored pencils? This is an easy, cheap, portable, low-skill creative way to take care of you!

One of the biggest benefits of coloring is that it helps us relax. And when we relax, amazing things happen! Relaxing helps lower blood pressure, lessen anxiety, reduce tension headaches, and relieve digestive upsets. When we concentrate attention on a particular section of a picture or center of a circle, we organically take less notice of what is happening outside that section or circle. This process produces a general sense of relaxation in their body in the form of deeper breaths and a slower heartbeat. These physiological changes release the body’s natural healing processes, and this is what meditation is all about.

At the VIP Center, I always keep a binder of coloring pages on hand. If you’re on campus and want to stop by, we can set you up with plenty to get started. Take some time to bring color into your world!